ISP remembers fallen troopers

Deaths often occur during routine duty, sergeant says.

Deaths often occur during routine duty, sergeant says.

BREMEN Â? If the deaths of police officers teach us anything, itÂ?s that police work is dangerous every day, all the time.

ItÂ?s not just dangerous when guns are drawn. It can also get an officer killed while heÂ?s performing the apparently mundane, everyday aspect of his job.

"I tell new troopers theyÂ?re more apt to get hit by a car or truck on a routine traffic stop than walking up on that vehicle and getting shot," though that certainly does happen, said Indiana State Police Sgt. Trent Smith.

And on Wednesday, the Indiana State Police Bremen Post honored state police officers who have died in the line of duty.

More than half of the 42 Indiana State Police officers who have died since 1933 have been injured during what are considered routine duties like helping motorists, Smith said.

"It tends to happen more during routine detail because thatÂ?s what they do more of," said Smith, who is the postÂ?s public information officer.

And traffic accidents seem to claim more lives than anything else, he said, given that the average officer drives between 30,000 and 50,000 miles every year. On the other hand, an officer may be involved in an incident involving weapons like firearms a half dozen times over a 20-year career.

Take the 1995 death of Ralph Reed, a motor carrier inspector and trooper with the Bremen post, Smith said.

"I remember when it happened," Smith said. "He was getting ready to end his shift."

Reed decided to inspect one more truck at the end of his shift, and, as he was doing so, he was sideswiped by another semi, losing his life.

Smith also mentioned Trooper Jason Beal, who was hit by a car in January 2000 as he was helping a wrecker operator pull a car out of a ditch in Kosciusko County.

Many of those deaths could have been avoided, it seems, if drivers had paid attention to what was going on in front of them, he said.

And, he said, officers Â? no matter what the situation Â? need to continually assess their safety, even after theyÂ?ve come upon a traffic violation and determined that the violator is not a threat, Smith explained. That is why, he said, many officers will now follow cars that have violated a traffic law for several miles before pulling them over Â? they are looking for a safe place for themselves and the violator.

And thatÂ?s also why, Smith said, he wants to remind people of the "move over" law.

When a driver comes upon a police officer, emergency vehicle or construction crew flashing lights on the side of a road, drivers should at least slow down to a reasonable speed and get to the far left side of the lane away from the flashing lights.

Many people whoÂ?ve hit people or cars on the side of the road report they never saw them.

"ItÂ?s driver inattention," Smith said. "It happens before you know it and you could take out a person on the side of the road."

During the memorial service Wednesday, officers and family members stood solemnly as the names of their fallen comrades were read.

Following the service, Ben and Tina Pestow, of Goshen, said they wanted to attend the service to support their son, Chris Pestow.

Chris Pestow became an Indiana State Trooper on April 7.

"You look at things a lot differently than you used to," said Tina Pestow about sitting through the memorial service. "I just hope I never have to listen to his name be read.Â?